Ko Olina Resorts

If you're like me, you're doing a deep dive into every luau on the island and reading every review so you can decide what to spend your hard earned money on. Look no further. Kaula Luau in Ko Olina truly delivered an unf... moreorgettable experience and I will highlight some of the best parts.

First off, it's a new luau (opened February 2026) and differs greatly from traditional luaus. Will get more into it later.

We got the hotel shuttle transfer and even though it ran a little late, we made it to the luau with a lot of time to spare. The bus was luxurious and very comfortable. We were a small group of 8 but our guide Kanoa (Zeek) was very welcoming, funny and attentive.

The gift shop featured only items sourced and made from locals on the island, nothing imported. A lot of cute bags!

The preshow/dinner activities were fun and we learned a lot. Our favorite was the fire baton twirling, dancing with traditional instruments, and throwing a fishing net. The teachers were very friendly and guided us throughout.

There's no buffet, but small huts that serve dishes. You can get seconds... Thirds... Or more. The poke taro chips, grilled chicken and the Hawaiian roll were delightful. Bottled Jason Mamoa water was provided. The wait staff was quick to remove finished plates too! As with any outdoor luaus, there will be bugs. Use bug spray and maybe bring a hand fan to shoo them away.

The preshow featured live singing and hula dancing. It was a good workout for the food we were gonna eat!

You got plenty of time in between the preshow and main show to take pictures with the gorgeous sunset.

The main show was the highlight. The story telling was immersive, engaging, easy to follow and enjoyable for all ages. Felt like watching a theatre show! The production was top notch. A lot of dancing, live singing and high energy. Ended with a bang: fiery fire dancers, including the first female fire dancer!

Book it. There's a lot of love put into the production and it shows 💖

I booked this Luau with our Ko Olina Kaula Kai Sunset Sail and Luau Combo.
https://www.veltra.com/en/hawaii/oahu/a/201093

After checking in around 5:00–5:15pm, we were instructed to board the catamaran while musicians p... morelayed and welcomed guests. For safety reasons, women wearing sandals or heels were asked to remove their shoes and board barefoot.

There were cookies and chips available for everyone on board, and once most guests had boarded, the bar opened. It was an open bar with options such as lilikoi mai tai, Waianae sunset, piña colada, turtletini, catatonic, and local beers from Kona Brewing. The boat was quite packed, and with only one bartender, the line became very long—so unless you were willing to wait, you could likely only get one or two drinks. They also ran out of chips, so not everyone was able to have some, until the very end when they refilled the table again.

We departed around 5:30pm. Since this was after the days of the storm, the ocean conditions hadn’t fully settled, and the ride was still a bit bumpy. Fortunately, I found a spot at the back of the boat, leaning against the railing and facing forward, which helped with the motion. We were able to spot a few​ whales, though they appeared only briefly, making them difficult to capture on camera. We returned to the harbor around 6:30pm, so the sailing portion lasted about an hour.

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

I booked this Luau with our Ko Olina Kaula Kai Sunset Sail and Luau Combo.
https://www.veltra.com/en/hawaii/oahu/a/201093

Upon arriving from the boat around 6:30 PM, we headed s... moretraight to the luau, just in time for dinner.

Their Luau dinner setup is different​ from a typical Luau. Guests ​g​o to multiple food stations and ​food trucks​ to select individual menu items. At each station, guests​ are served a plate of that item. One highlight for me was that the catering is provided by Moani. Moani Island Bistro in Kapolei is one of our favorite weekend spots, so I was especially excited​, and the food did not disappoint. Everything served at the luau was delicious.

Regarding seating, since this was an Industry FAM night,​ I'm not sure if this was normal but there were no assigned seats. Instead, a designated area was reserved for FAM attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. We were seated on the left side of the stage at the last table in the back, but still had a great view.

The stage itself was beautifully designed​, very unique and inviting. The storytelling was engaging. It felt li​ke a full production, almost like an outdoor ​broadway​ show, with impressive lighting, sound effects, and screen animations, ​oh and we were surprised to see an acrobatic​ too!​  It actually reminded me of “Auana” in Waikiki​,​ almost like a Westside version in Ko Olina. The performance featured a wide range of Polynesian dances, which was fun to watch.

Highly recommended especially for those staying at Ko Olina Resorts or on the West side.

This wasn’t just a commercialized Luau. It was a cultural experience. Great food, fantastic dancing, fun activities, and a moving story. All approved by the elders. We couldn’t have had a better time. Highly recommen... moreded .

It was an honor and a privilege to experience the tour of Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, and USS Missouri. Much of the other areas seen were just site seeing. Honolulu was fine but I would like to have seen less of Honolulu ... moreand more of Pearl Harbor.

Saw no whales this day but all not lost. We encountered a pod of dolphins on the way back to the dock. They played with us for awhile circling the boat and darting away. That made up for the lack of whales!